This book presents us with Oulipo—the mischievous group of writers whose obsession with words knows no limits. Levin Becker expertly describes the members of the group, each one uniquely working to devise linguistic puzzles to write within. The routes they choose through their puzzles often produce incredible works of fiction (Perec's novel which withholds the letter e is proof of this). Intriguing only begins to describe the mindset behind Oulipo. —Recommended by Luke, City Lights Books

The youngest member of the Paris-based experimental collective Oulipo, Levin Becker tells the story of one of literature's quirkiest movements—and the personal quest that led him to seek out like-minded writers, artists, and scientists who are obsessed with language and games, and who embrace formal constraints to achieve literature’s potential.